A Center Bubbled Life

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 and Psalms 46

Theme: Living a Balanced Life – Doing and Being

Title: Living a Center Bubbled Life

Learning through Jesus’ conversation with Martha and Mary how to live a more balanced life between doing and being.

INTRO:

Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Thank the LORD for busy people.

From sometime early on Sunday morning until Tuesday afternoon there are people all over our church driving, delivering, packing and repacking, assembling, washing and doing all kinds of other things to get ready for our Food Pantry Day.

It is amazing how much work is put into our being able to help others. If you have never seen it in action, you would be amazed. There are trips into town to get some of the items that are given to us. There are others that come to the Church and deliver goods. There are eggs that need to be washed and packaged. There is bread and other items that are packaged, repackaged and put into boxes so people can pick them up and use them.

It takes a whole team of people who are willing to put in some hard work, sweat and love into this ministry. It takes a whole team of people who donate and pray for this ministry.

And it all feels good.

+There is something wonderful about being a part of an active ministry that helps people of all races, creeds, backgrounds and circumstances.

+There is something good about being able to give some money, to feel the sweat drop down our faces or to hold the phone as we make a needed phone call.

+There is something good about opening a Sunday School book and to start teaching a class.

+There is something good about opening a door for people while at the same time greeting them with a warm smile and telling them how good it is to see them.

+There is something good about being able to lead a song, play an instrument and make sure that the overhead screens work.

+There is something good about going around the church checking the doors to make sure that we have done our due diligence in making sure everything is safe and secure.

+There is something good about sweeping a floor, cleaning a bathroom or dusting a shelf or two making sure that the Church feels good, smells good and looks good.

+There is something good about turning on the facet, picking up a cloth and washing a few dishes.

+There is something good about setting up some tables and chairs knowing that the people sitting in them will be sharing a meal and life.

+There is something good in being able to bring part of a meal to share with others.

+There is something good about making a prayer quilt, tying a knot or two while you pray for the person knowing that over the weeks and months it will be a constantly reminder of love and prayer.

+There is something good about being able to put some monies in the plate knowing that it will not only help the local church but be used to help people all over the world.

+There is something good about joining together in prayer asking the LORD to be with people not only a few feet away from us but all over the world.

+There is something good about helping one another and being a part of other people’s lives.

It is good to put our faith into action. It is good to be doing something for others in the name of Jesus. There is something about all those things that brings us a sense of joy, peace, comfort and contentment.

All of those are things are things that we could call “Martha Ministries” this morning.

It’s the kind of things that denominations and businesses want on their final reports. They want to see how many things we have done and how many people have been involved in all the different projects.

In a few weeks, we will have a Charge Conference where we will see all kinds of reports given. Reports that concern how much is given, how many different ministries are in operation and how many people come to this event or that event.

All the numbers, all the figures – all of them will be looked at – measured and examined, critiqued and evaluated – to see how they can be improved upon this upcoming year.

And there is nothing wrong with that at all – there is nothing wrong with any of that.

We live in a Martha world – a world of service, a world of action, a world of doing and doing and doing.

Look at Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) – It is a Martha type Ministry if there ever was one: